LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 105, 9 April 1885, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

We take : the following from a Wcllinglon letter to a southern paper : At the Magistrate's Court this morning a man named Smith was charged with vagrancy. It transpired that his wife kept a brothel, m which they trained young girls for immoral purposes. One girl of 14 pfcated that she lived by prostitution with another girl of 15 m Smith's house. The younger girl was encientc. The police stated that people visiting the house were, frequently drugged and robbed. Tim Magistrate admitted that the state of affairs was very pitiable, but discharged the prisoners. Subsequently lie sentenced a poor old mau to four «1 ay 8 r imprison tneiit for sleeping m a coal • shed. , The Wellington correspondent of the Otago Times telegraphed that paper recently :-^" In; the addition to the large ordoiß already sent Home for war tcaterial, the Government have . to-day cabled for tOO,. Whitehcad torpedoes of the latest and best pattern ; also for a quantity of submarine milling apparatus —the whole to be sent out with the utmost depatch. This determination was comb to to-dajf,l understand, upon the advice of and after bonsultatiou with his excellency the Governor. It is not generally known, but nevertheless true, that sufficient cables and explosives are already m the Colouy to make a very good defence of the harbors of the Colony, and the Government intend that no time shall bo lost m getting everything m readiness. Preparations are already being made for laying submarine mines m the principal harbors of the Colony, and m the course of a day or two we shall probably hear of this work being pioceded with m a practical manner." Owing to the continued indisposition of his Honor Mr Justice Richmond, the criminal business of the April Circuit Court m Wellington has to be taken by 'the Chief Justice*--' . - In " Good Faithls" No, 2 Consultation the second prize went to a well known resident m Palirierston North. In the Tattersall Company Rubina went to a carter at Woodville, and Sou'wester to a hotellceepef at Woodville. The New York. Herald will, it is reported, soon be published simultaneously m all the capitals of Europe and New Jersey. Its American editions, also will be polyglot. £9500 was put through the total isa" tors on the first day of the Canterbury Autumn meeting. The Lady Jocelyn sailed from Napier | foi London on Monday, with the Following cargo : — IS6G bales of wool, 15 bales of skins, 456 casks of tallow, 1007 cases of meat, and 8552 carcases of frozen mutton. Mr J. Laird, the Wanganui seedsman, left the old country about a month ago, and his friends. expect him out about m about a fortnight or three weeks. He returns via Australia. The Secretary; oE the Small Farm As" aociatiou (Mr Davis) informs* the Wan" ganiii Hwald^ thai ho has received a communication to the effoet that the block chosen has been valued at £1 per aero. This, m the estimation of the rneu sent oat to prospect, is very low, and the Association may be congrotula-* ted on their luck m securing laud at so low a price. There is a strong desire abioad to form another Association, and we should not be surprised to hear of the initiative steps being taken any 1 day. A London firm of watch manufacturers have just brought out a watch embodying a novel arrangement, m view of the., probable introduction .and acceptance. of the change m the way of reckoning time resolved upon at the Prime Meridian Conference. The new watch has two faces or dials placed back to back, the one bearing the figures one to 12, and the other the new arrangement of one. to 24. There is bnt one movement, however, and this governs the two sets of hands, so that they travel with, perfect accuracy together. The hour' hand of the 24 hour dial makes one revolution while that of the 12 hour dial is making: two. "Mamma," said a six year old, as he stood upSbn tip-toe by the bedside and peered at his new little brother, " where did that baby come from ?" " The angels brought him, darling, 1 ' said mamma, "The angels brought him? echoed the shaver as he gazed at the wrinkled, red countenance. " Well, all I've got to say is that if the angels couldn't a scared up a better lookin' baby they'd better 'a kept him at home." Mamma — Y*»i, my child, we shall all know each other m heaven. Edith — But, mamma we can't make believe out ' when some of them call, can we ?" Tenders closed yesterday for the contract* on the Noith Island Main Trunk Railway. It is prohablo that there will be a good many tenders for the section near Marton. The Hon the Promier, accompanied by Mr Blair, of the Public Works Department, left Wellington for Auckland on Friday, Their business is of a general character. They intend (flays the Post) to return through the Walkato, along the line of the Central Railway, and down the Wanganui River. Young Indies who wish to have small mouths are advised to repeat this at frequent intervals during the day : " Fanny Find) friod floundering frop, for Francis Fowler's father. Tho Wellington Hibernian Society have forwarded an ord«r to Molhr.urne for a large banner which >s to cost about £100.

A few clays a<jo the Daily New's correspondent m New York telegraphed a curious story to the effect that some time ago a plot to destroy London was set on foot, the substance of which was that 100 young men were to bo bound ' together by a solemn oath to plan a detailed attack on a certain number of public buildings. Eacli man was at. the same hour to place an infernal machineas pre-arranged, timed to go off m four or five minutes. The signal for these attempts would bo given by a dynamltobomb, which would bo dropped from a balloon over the centre of London, and it was hoped that m the excitement caused by this event the assassins would after depositing their infernal machines, get clear away before they exploded. Three men,' it is said, volunteered for the job, and it is thought that the man Cunningham, now m custody, was the ingenious author of this very pretty little scheme. The latest theatrical gossip is that the Jersey Lily has broken off all her American engagements for next season, and will return to England. The cause of this is said to be a lover's quarrel with her devoted Freddy, who, if rumor speaks truly, is quite tired of the devotions of the professional beauty, demonstrating that you can get " too much of a good thing." Mrs Langtry is said to have become equally indifferent to her " Gebby," and to have transferred her affections to Charles Coghlan, her handsome leading ruari m England. The earthquake came m the night, and it awakened the old womau.who bogau to shake her husband. " Isaac," she cried, " Isaac, wake up." " What's the matter?" he suddenly questioned. "Day of. Judgment is coming." "Oh, go to sleep. No danger of the Day of Judgment coming m the night," and so saying he rolled over and quietly slumbered. The Colonial Secretary of Queensland has received the following telegram from Boulla : — "Man, name unknown, reported found dead at Carandotta. station, Georgina river. Piece of paper found on the body, on which were written the words, 'Bitten by snake. 1 " The inquest on the body of Captain Davidson is concluded and a verdict $o the effect that he shot himself whilst m a fit of temporary insanity was returned. A gentleman recently about to pay his doctor's bill said : " Well, doctor, as my little boy gave the measles to all nay neighbors' children, and as they were attended by you, I think you can afford, at the very least, to deduct ten per cent, from the amount of my bill lor the increaseof business we procured you." Writes a correspondent of the Wanganui Herald :— Taken altogether the Easter Encampment for 1885 may be said to have been the most successful ever held by the volunteers m these districts, and that it was so, was due 'largely to the active interest taken by Majors Pitt and Stapp for months prior to. the affair ' coining off. There seemed to.be a general desire to hold the next encampment m Wanganui, so that it is probable we may see the visiting corps here next year, and we can only trust that when the 188G encampment comes off, it may be a3 great a success as that just held m " Sleepy Hollow." A pious convict m the Philadelphia Penitentary, where the system of solitary confinement is m vogue, manages to do some missionary work among his fellow prisoners by writing Scriptural texts on the backs of immense cockroaches which wander from cell to cell. Irate Chicago dealer — " I shall stand this trifling no longer, madam. If you don't bring the money for that jewellery within a week, I will send the bill to your husband and you know the row he will raise." Fair Chicagoan — Send it. Send it to him right off. Do. Perhaps you think you know his address. "I know his residence. He lives where you [ do of course." " Oh, no, he don't, not now. I got a divorce from him yesterday, and this morning he eloped with your wife. So there now." The Christchurch Protection Association have adopted the following resolution : — " That with a view to providing at no distant date profitable and healthy employment for the rising youth of this Colony, of both sexes, m the large centres of population, as also m the various towns scattered throughout the land, the Government be requested to take into their consideration such measures as will tender to toster, promote, and encourago all such industries as may be started to supply our colonial requirements, and which will provide legitimate occupation which will prevent our youths leaving the Colony and their homes to the loss of the entire community." The following suggestive paragraph for those who are agitating for increased Biblical instructions m our State schools appears m Mr Justice Williams' recently published volume, entitled " Religion without Superstition " : — " In schools where tho Bible is read and learned it is a well-known fact that idlo and prurient-minded boys spend a considerablo portion of their time m looking up and gloating over all those filthy stories with which the Old Testament teems. There are pages upon pages and chapter upon chapter, that no father or mother, worthy the name, would ever dream of reading to, or willingly .allow a sou or daughter to read. Vulcan informs us that the first prize m his consultation on the Christchurch Autumn Handicap was won by a resident of Blenheim and a steward of the s.s. Waihi, the second prize by a Wellington gentleman and a gentleman m Christchurch, and the third by a company of twelve m Wellington. Two minor prizes came to Palnierston North. A correspondent sends the Foxton paper tho following t — Another victory for the Salvation Army! The Army inarch upon Moutoa April 3rd ! Are m occupation of the School liouse and master's residence on the same day! The I master advances m- hot haste to dislodge ' the enemy, but fails m the attempt. His disgraceful retreat is hailed by the exulting shouts of the Salvationists ! That'll do you ! Hallelujah!" A correspondent with the Nile Expedition writes that tho camels are great lovers of tobacco. Let anyone smoke a pipe or cigar m the camel enclosure, and the camel will follow the smoker about, place his nose close to the burn ing tobacco, inhale the fumes wiih a prolonged sniff, swallow the smoke, then, throwing his head up, with mouth agape and eyes upturned, showing the bloodshot white, will grunt a si.»h of ecstacy which would make the fortune of a cemedian m a love scene. Minister (after church) — You aeemed very much impressed bj' my sermon this morning Deacon. Deacon (who had dozed through it all)— Y-yes, I was— er — very much interested indeed; but would you mind repeating the text ? The exact words have escaped me. Minister — Ho giveth His beloved sleep. ' A clergyman m a church on a recent occasion discovered that he had forgot ten his notes. As it was too late to send for them, he said to his tuidience that this morning ho should have, to depend upon tho Lord for what he might say, J but m lha afternoon he would «ome hotter prepared. Cement for fastening wood to stone — Melt together four parts of |>itch and ono of wax, and add four parts of a pounded brickdust or chalk. It must ho warmed before using, and npplied thinly to tho surfaces to be joined. I

The railway companies generally have! been warned by the police that attempts may bo made to cause disaster to railway property and to travellers. T;ho first attempt of this character (says an English paper) was made recently, and was directed against the night mail train leaving Ludgate at 7.56. The place of the attempted crime was between Bockeuham and Shortlands, and the outrage was prevented by tho observation and thonghtfulnoss of men m charge of a carrier's cart. These, m going over a bridge, noticed two men at work at the line. Having passed over the bridge, the carriers stopped their cart, and went back, when the workers on the line hastily decamped across the fields. The carriers raised an alarm, and it was then discovered that sleepers had been placed along the line m such a manner as to wreck the next train passing, which would, have been the Continental mail train, containing British and foreign travellers. The obstructions were removed, and the train passed safely on its way without the passengers being aware of tho danger they had escaped. The London Metropolitan Bailway Company (the underground Una) has adopted an iugenious electric station indicator lately patented. By this devise the name of the station which the train is approaching appears m each compartment simultaneously. The apparatus is said to be remarkably simple, and easily managed. The Free Lance, Observer, and Evening Telej)?ione, all Auckland newspapers, have amalgamated and m future will appear as a daily evening paper and weekly. The old star office has been taken by the new proprietors. A simple (?) youth was fined a pound and costs , by. the R.M. this morning, writes the Napier News, for bringing down a wild duck with his gun at Taradale yesterday. He pleaded ignorance of the Hawke's Bay game laws, but the Magistrate considered there was no one to blame for this ignorance but himself — hence the extraction of the young man's pound note. Having paid so much for his shot, he thought he should have the game, but oven this was denied him. He would be liable to be fined if he were seen with it m his possession. The query is who gets the duck. It is forfeit to the State, but who amiexes it ? Truly the claimant seems to have had a terrible fall from his high estate as a " Baronet of the United Kingdom." No long since he had the mortification of being " rejected " by even Barnum himself, and now it would seem that the best opening he can find for a public appearance is to don an apron over his ample proportion and serve — yes, actually serve — the tagrag and bobtail of a busy Scottish town, where a cheap advertising North Briton has actually made a bold bid of several pounds — English, not Scotch— per week for the sorvicea of tho Claimant as first counterman ! We take the following from last night's Herald :— We find that an errtfr was made by us last evening m saying Mr Marcus was about to leave the station here for that of New Plymouth. There are several changes about to take place " the following officials being shifted — Mr Dawson, from Wanganui, to Napier; Mr Coker, stationmaster New Plymouth to Wanganui ; Mr Bass, of Palmevston North, to New Plymouth ; Mr McKenna, of Halcombe, to Palmerston North ; Mr Lambert, of Hawera, to Halcombe, and Mr Hill, of Manntahi, to Hawera. From a Wellington paper we learn that between ninety and one hundred men are now employed m making roads and excavating for the defence works at Point Halswefi. A tunnel has been excavated on a hill at the oif side of Evans Bay for the powder magazine, and a number of men are busy J at work carting stone for a jetty close by. Good progress has been made with the road works, and the scene is quite an . animated one. There are 'no less than 35 tents close by. One gang . of men is working towards Gordon Point, and the other from Halswell Point. Since her return to England from America, not much has been heard from Mrs Langtry. In fact, her name has' almost ceased to be remembered. She comes before the public again, having lost none of the attractiveness which made her an object of: curiosity m England. She is on the boards under the management, of Mr Abbey, who finds that there is still a fortune m the lady. The announcement that Mrs Langtry was to appear iti the Princess's Theatre, m London, causrul tho sale of ticketsamounting to three times the number of people the house would hold. A woman who has been the wife of * a Mormon elder for several years deserted him recently and weut homo, denouncing Mormonism and everything connect-, ed with it m the bitterest of terms. " I wns induced to bucome a Mormon," she said, " through the grossest misrepresentations. I was informed that every woman had th-ee husbands, instead of which 1 found myself one of three wives, Movmonisin is a disgrace to civilisation." Old Thistloblend has a telephone at his place of business, and he has mii structed Mrs T., when she wants tocom- [ municato with him from the domestic I dwell m i.% to call m at neighbouring tradesman's, and ask the loan of that means of conveying her message to her somewhat bibulouß lord. The other day Mrs T, availed herself for the first time of tho convenience, and w&s duly instructed by the shopkeeper m the modus operandL "If it's a private message*, I ma'am," said the proprietor of the tele- [ phone, "you had better ask who's at | the other end before you speak." " Oh, it's all right," replied the lady, " I kno.v it's Mr T., I can smell his breath. Bavaria has enacted a law forbidding tho marriage of couples who do not possess sufficient means to maintain themselves, or who, during the previous three years have received help from the public funds, or who have not paid Iheii quota of taxes, or regarding whom there is reason to snspect that trouble will resnlt to the household from want of sobriety, economy, or love of work.